We had the privilege today of buying back our video camera back from the man who stole it! Definitely not our shining moment as "world travelers," but a good stopping point for the complacency and security into which we had been slipping. A theft always brings up a mixture of emotions...embarrassment, anger (both at the thief and yourself), violation... Haim and I always try to remind ourselves when something like this happens it is better this than harm to life, limb, health, ect....basically rather the small stuff than the big stuff. None the less, it was a bummer....On the other hand, we did get our camera with all of the videos of the continental crossing intact!
We are not terribly taken with Tetouan, which the guidebook described as "strikingly beautiful" with "houses full of extravagant detail." I do think, however, that our opinion is somewhat colored by both the dreary weather and the "camera caper." It has been drizzling on and off since our arrival yesterday afternoon. Also, there is a holiday of some sort, which we can't quite figure out, but definitely involves a lot of Berbers coming from the mountains and also involves the sale (and I imagine subsequent consumption) of amazing numbers of live sheep and goats. Unfortunately, this seems to be a household type of holiday and we have not had the random luck of quickly ingratiating ourselves with anyone who wants to invite us home to eat with them...not many couch surfers in the area either. In any case, the streets are full and there is a lot of excitement and enjoyable people watching.
We've taken a very comfortable, old hotel (probably at one time a bit upscale) just outside of the Medina. Plenty of hot water mornings and evenings, and a great corner balcony overlooking the streets below. All in all a very good place to spend a couple of days. We've found a nearby kebab stall where we've enjoyed dinner 2 nights in a row, and there is a tea shop just below that brings up up coffee and mint tea, which combined with the delicious cookies we've bought in the market makes for wonderful snacks...the cookies are crisp, perfectly crumbly, and almost savory...which is a perfect balance to the tea which has about a pound of sugar per glass.
We are ready to move on...tomorrow we plan to make our way to Chefchouan, known as the blue city....as most of it's buildings are painted white and blue. We will try to go off the main highway and find a smaller unpaved road that we've seen on satellite...we'll be armed with a full tank of gas, plenty of water, a compass, and a good sense of humor! Wish us luck.
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